Ear canal exostosis is a localized bone growth in the ear canal. It results in a progressive narrowing of the ear canal. Ear canal exostosis is usually treated as part of an operation in which the exostosis is removed with a diamond drill.
Below you will find further information and selected specialists for ear canal exostosis.
The ear canal is a passageway in the skull bone through which sound waves travel from the outside to the eardrum. The outer two thirds of the ear canal consist of mobile cartilage, one third of the ear canal is bony.
In the case of ear canal exostosis, a bone growth forms here which narrows the ear canal. This can be caused by irritation of the periosteum, for example when swimmers allow cool water to enter the ear canal.
An ear canal exostosis is not malignant, such as a tumor. The problem is rather the progressive narrowing of the ear canal.
The ear canal connects the outer ear with the internal auditory organs. An ear canal exostosis narrows the ear canal © Henrie | AdobeStock
Due to the narrowing of the ear canal, water often remains in the ear canal area after bathing or showering.
Earwax can also accumulate and cause recurring ear canal infections.
Further difficulties can arise for wearers of hearing aids or noise protection devices.
The right contact person for problems with the ear or hearing is the ear, noseand throat specialist (ENT). They will carry out a routine inspection of the ear canal and an eardrum microscopy. He compares the findings with the opposite side, i.e. the other ear. This makes individual differences in the patient more clearly visible.
During these examinations, the doctor can also diagnose other diseases, such as
Bone exostoses are hard on palpation and relatively sensitive to pain due to the periosteum.
A routine hearing test should be carried out preoperatively in the case of an auditory canal exostosis. A computer tomography is only necessary in exceptional cases of malformations or bone diseases.
If the symptoms are appropriate, treatment of an exostosis in the ear canal consists of surgical removal (ear canal plasty). This is usually performed under general anesthesia, but can also be performed under local anesthesia.
The access route to the bony ear canal is created either via a skin incision in front of or behind the pinna. The skin of the auditory canal is then carefully prepared and detached from the bony attachments - the additional bone growth. The main aim is to preserve the skin of the ear canal.
Removal is carried out with diamond drills of various sizes under microscopic vision. The doctor uses these to grind away the bone and widen the ear canal.
The skin of the ear canal is then repositioned on the smoothed bone. The doctor splints the ear canal with the help of silicone foils.
Finally, he inserts an ear canal tamponade made of cotton gauze or a gel. The tamponade presses the ear canal skin against the bone and thus promotes better wound healing.
The operation is completed with skin sutures and a head bandage with a wrap.
The wound is checked regularly after the operation. A hearing check is also necessary to check the result of the operation.
The stitches from the skin sutures are removed after 8 to 10 days.
The ear canal tamponade remains in the ear for a few days to a few weeks. The duration depends on the tamponade material used and the surgeon's assessment. The tamponade is usually removed between the 5th and 21st day after the operation.
The use of ointments may be advisable after split-thickness skin grafting. They promote wound healing and help to prevent scarring in the ear canal.
The risks of exostosis removal include injury to the eardrum
Hearing loss due to the noise and transmission of the drilling noise via the bone to the cochlea is rare, as is dizziness due to vibrations.
During the operation, the facial nerve is routinely monitored using neuromonitoring. The risk of injuring the facial nerve(facial nerve) is therefore a very rare complication.
If parts of the bone are exposed due to ear canal skin that cannot be preserved, split skin can be removed from behind the ear. The doctor then transplants it into the defect.
Ear canal surgery with diamond drills is a good option for removing exostoses. The patient benefits from a clear advantage for their ear canal problems.
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